Two Broncos make college choices

Chrissy Fletcher plans to major in business in college, with a minor in hospitality and tourism.

She could sell you on New Mexico State after just two trips west.

Fletcher, a senior forward on the Montini girls basketball team, has committed to play at New Mexico State starting in 2009-2010. She is one of two Montini players to make verbal commitments. Junior guard Courtney Thomas, a transfer from Loyola, committed to Marquette on Saturday.

Fletcher made her first visit to the Western Athletic Conference school in Las Cruces, N.M., in June. She made her official visit the first weekend in October.

"The basketball program has great potential," Fletcher said of a team coming off a 23-9 season. "I'll have an opportunity to play, I really love the coach, and I got along great with the girls."

Fletcher averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds as a junior for Montini, which advanced to the Class 3A semifinals last season.

"Her better days could be ahead of her if she continues to work," Montini coach Jason Nichols said.

Thomas, who played AAU basketball with Montini teammates Michaela Johnson and Whitney Holloway, is a 6-foot-1 guard ranked 29th nationally in the class of 2010 by ESPN. She played summer league ball with Montini.

"She's a big guard with a long wingspan and athletic," Nichols said. "Her game might be even better in a few years because of her upside."

She chose Marquette, which finished 21-14 last year and won the WNIT title, over Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"I like all the coaches," she said, "and the fact that it's pretty close to home."